Automatic temperature regulator



SW. 12, 19 39.. ELBERKS 2,372,828

AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE REGULATOR Filed April 13-, 1938 INVENTOR.

E.L.BERK5 BY g M ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 12, 1939 UNITED H STATES OFFICE AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE REGULATOR Elizabeth L.Berks,']i' rooklyn,'N. Y. Application April 13, 1938, Serial No. 201,696

2 Claims. (01,;236-42) This invention relates to constant temperature regulators. for the intakewater flowing into a storage tankor any other tank or chambensuch as a boiler, in which it is desired to maintain an approximately constant temperature, the intake water which flows in at a constant relatively low rate. One object of the invention is the:provision of such a device which is provided .withseparate hot water and cold water. inlets, with auto: matic means to vary the degree of openings through the said respective inlets to keep the infiowing mixture approximately Constantin spite of the variations in temperature of the .hot and cold water between reasonable limits, such as commonly occur in hot or cold water supply apparati.

The above and other objects will become apparent in the description below, in which characters of reference refer to like-named parts in the accompanying drawing.

Referring briefly to the drawing,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the device.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral IIJ represents a horizontal cylinder or pipe communicating through a coupling at one end with a vertical T having the same diameter as the pipe I and whose arms I I and I2 are respectively the hot and cold water inlets. The nipple I3, in alignment with the pipe Ill, is closed by a plug I30. and serves to give access into the center of the T. At its opposite end the pipe I I] has a housing 25, substantially barrel-shaped, which has a central outlet nipple 24 at right angles to both the T and the pipe I0. The enlarged chamber at the intersection of the pipe I0 and the outlet nipple 24, i. e., the chamber within the housing 25, is indicated at 26.

Slightly reduced smooth bores I4 and I are provided at the inner ends of the T arms II and I2, and a piston valve I5 is slidably mounted therein. This valve comprises a pair of spacedapart parallel discs I6 and IT united by a cylindrical column I8 having a longitudinal slot I9 extending the full distance between its roof and floor, i. e., between the discs I6 and I1. Thus, by means of the slot I9 the column I8 is divided into a pair of spaced-apart columnar sections I81: and I822 whose juxtaposed surfaces are parallel.

.Aspider. 20 extendsintegrally upward from the disc I6 and a similar spider 2| extends integrally downward from the disc I'I, each spider being freely. slidable in its respective reduced bore (I4 and.=.I5):.'

--:-A horizontal pin 22 extends rigidly across the slot I9 intermediate the discs I6 and I1, with its ends anchored in the columnar sections I8a and I812. The fingers of a hook 23 loosely embrace the pin 22, and it is apparent that the piston I5 may be readily raised or lowered by raising or lowering. the. hook. 23. In the positions of the parts shown in Figure 2, the disc I6 is a short distance below' the. lower periphery of the hot water inlet II, and the disc H is a similar distancefabove the upper periphery of the. cold water' inlet I2.' Thus, when the water flows through both inlets, it will pass around these discs and into the pipe IIl, through the chamber 26, and

out through the outlet 24. It is obvious that as the piston I5 is raised the hot water intake diminishes and the cold water intake correspondingly increases, and vice versa, with complete closure of either possible.

The housing has an upper nipple 21 and a 25 lower nipple 28, the axis through which is also vertical. In the former a nut 28a is threaded, this nut being provided with a central bore through which a stem 29 passes, the latter being threaded throughout most of its lower portion. 30

At its upper extremity the stem 29 has a square end 30 surrounded by a removable threaded cap 3I engaging the elongated threaded neck 32 of the nut 28. The body of the nut 28 is concentrically hollowed out to provide a chamber 33 therewithin, and the internal surface of this chamber is also threaded. A lock nut 34 having also a central opening therethrough through which the stem 29 passes, engages the internal thread of the chamber 33. The lower nipple 28 has a cap 35 threadably closing the nipple, this cap being provided with a central opening partway therethrough, into which the lower end of the stem 29 projects and in which the stem is rotatably centrally positioned.

A block '36 threadably surrounds the stem 29 and has a clamp 31 integral therewith projecting into the pipe I0. A thermostatic strip 38 is clamped. between the clamp 3'! and a screw 39 on Y the end of the hook 23, the strip 38 extending through the pipe II].

In the positions shown in Figure 2, as stated, when both hot and cold water are permitted to enter the respective inlets, at first, an equal volume of each will flow past the discs of the pistion into the pipe l0 and out through the outlet 24. If the hot water is too hot, the mixture flowing thorugh the pipe It) will cause the strip 38 to bend as to raise the piston and hence reduce the hot water inlet opening while increasing the cold water inlet opening. The opposite will occur if the hot water inflow is too cool.

To regulate the device so as to maintain the proper original position of the piston l5, i. e., of the hook 23, for the given conditions under which the device is being used, the stem 29 is rotated to cause the block 36 to rise or fall and consequently to cause the hook 23 to rise or fall. Once the setting has been made, i. e., the horizontal position of the strip 38, the regulating stem of the device in the housing 25 is locked in an obvious manner. Once the regulation of the block 36 by the stem 29 has been made for the given conditions, the inlet cold and hot water may be permitted to flow freely, as thereafter the relative temperatures of the latter as they vary from time to time will cause automatic variations of their respective volumes of inflow so that the mixture passing through the pipe Ill and out through the outlet 24, into Whatever tank or receptacle the mixture enters, will retain an approximately constant temperature.

Obviously, modifications in form andstructure may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A device of. the class described comprising a cylinder having a T at one end and an enlarged housing at the other end, the arms of said T providing respectively hot and cold water inlets and communicating with said cylinder, a

piston slidably mounted in said T, a pair of spaced-apart discs on said piston adapted to slide adjacent the J'unctures of said arms with said cylinder to vary inversely the degree of opening of each of said arms into said cylinder, a hook loosely engaging said piston between said discs, a thermostatic strip extending through said cylinder and having one end secured to said hook, a threaded stem rotatably mounted in said housing, a block threadably surrounding said stem, the other end of said strip being removably secured to said block, said housing having an outlet, and means in said housing for rotatably and centrally positioning said stem in parallel relationship with the axis of said piston.

2. A device of the class described comprising a cylinder having a T at one end an enlarged housing at the other end, the arms of said T providing respectively hot and cold water inlets and communicating with said cylinder, a piston slidably mounted in said T, a pair of spaced-apart discs on said piston adapted to slide adjacent the junctures of said arms with said cylinder to vary inversely the degree of opening of each of said arms into said cylinder, a vertically slotted column extending between said discs and having a rigid pin horizontally bridging said slot, a hook loosely engaging said pin, a thermostatic strip extending through said cylinder and having one end secured to aid hook, a threaded stem parallel with said T rotatably mounted in said housing, a block threadably surrounding said stem, the other end of said strip being secured to said block, said housing having an outlet.

ELIZABETH L. BERKS. 

